Getting started with digital accessibility might seem overwhelming, but we recommend starting with seven foundational accessibility skills. Once you get the hang of these skills, they will become second nature, and you won’t give them a second thought!

7 Core Accessibility Skills

Getting started with digital accessibility might seem overwhelming, but we recommend starting with seven foundational accessibility skills. Once you get the hang of these skills, they will become second nature, and you won’t give them a second thought!

Alt Text

Every meaningful image must have alternate text, or "alt text", added to it, so that those who can’t see or access the image can access the same information the image provides. Alt text is a short description, usually a few words or short sentence, that assistive technologies, like a screen reader, can read aloud. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and D2L Brightspace all have built-in ways to create these alt text with just a couple of clicks. Keep them simple and descriptive. Try reading them out loud as if describing the image to someone.  For in-depth information about writing alt text, check out this resource from WebAIM. Check out ASU's image description generator online. For specific examples from various disciplines, including complex ones, check out the Diagram Center’s Image Description Guidelines.

Example caption: butterfly resting on a flower

Color Contrast

Ensure there is sufficient color contrast between foreground and background colors wherever there is text. Insufficient contrast, such as light blue on blue text, may be hard to read. Common places for insufficient color contrast are PowerPoint slides and websites.

Avoid using color to convey meaning or emphasis, such as green for good and red for bad, as those using screen readers or colorblind individuals may not be able to tell the difference. If you are unsure, use this tool to check the color contrast. This resource from WebAIM provides more information about color contrast.

Poor Contrast Example
Good Contrast Example

Headings

In addition to separating content into meaningful sections, headings can help users who use screen readers navigate through a page or document. Most programs have a drop-down text formatting tool where you can select styles such as title, normal, and different levels of headers. Be consistent in levelling; start with Header 1 and if there are subsections use Header 2 and so on. When that section is done and you begin the next one, go back to Header 1. As an example, notice how the headings are utilized in this document. The “Accessible 7” is a Header 1, while each of these sub-types are Header 2. For more information about headings, see this WebAIM web resource.

Links

Links to designated websites have become commonplace virtually everywhere online. It is best practice to make sure your links are as concise and descriptive as possible, even when taken out of context. Whenever possible, you should embed links within other text, writing them as naturally as possible, with the most specific and relevant text selected as the actual link text. The link text should make clear where readers will go, and what they will find, if they click on the link. This resource from WebAIM includes more information about links and is a good example of how to embed links in text.

Lists

When making a list of items, numbered or otherwise, it is best practice to format and designate it as a proper list. That means using either the “list” formatting tool in a program like Word or PowerPoint or in a native online editor, or the list tags when working with HTML code. Do not simply insert numbers, dashes, or other characters without actual list formatting. When employing an unnumbered list, just use the generic bullet characters provided by the application or editor. For more information about formatting lists, check out this resource from WebAIM.

Tables

Tables should be used to present data and give it greater clarity with rows and columns. They should not be used simply for aesthetic appeal of a page or document. As with a list, you should utilize formatting tools where available to create a table. If row or column headers are employed, keep them as simple and descriptive as possible. Avoid complex or embedded tables and make sure all table cells are populated with some textual content. If necessary, make use of the alt text feature (or caption code in HTML) to describe the overall contextual purpose of the table. This resource from WebAIM includes more detailed information about formatting tables.

Captioning and Transcripts 

Captions must be included on any video content that contains audio, and transcripts must be available for audio-only content. If including any newly created videos, be sure that the audio sufficiently describes what is shown on screen along with accompanying captions. If embedding a video from a source like YouTube, use their auto-generated captions. If your embedded video does not have captions, use Kaltura MediaSpace as described below. Always review any generated captions and transcripts for accuracy. To ensure clarity in captions:

1. Make sure spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are correct.
2. Keep sections of text to two to three lines of five to six words per line.
3. For multiple speakers, identify who is speaking by including their name with their words, with either parentheses or introduced with a colon.